Alfie Mawson retires from football

[fulhamfan]

Alfie Mawson has called time on a glittering playing career at the age of 29 due to injury, Wycombe Wanderers regrets to announce.

The defender has starred at each of the top six levels of English football, achieving a call-up to the England squad and winning two promotions, making more than 250 senior appearances.

His professional career started and ends with the Chairboys, earning his EFL debut in 2014 during a loan spell from Brentford which acted as a springboard for his career, taking him to League 1 and then the Championship with Barnsley ahead of a transfer to top-flight Swansea City.

Alfie moved to Fulham in 2018, featuring regularly in the first half of a promotion-winning campaign, and spent time on loan with Bristol City in 2020/21, before returning to Adams Park in August.

He played 21 times for the Blues this season, with his last appearance coming – appropriately – with a win and a clean sheet against Ipswich Town at Adams Park in December.

"It might come as a shock to some people, but to me, it's been coming for a while," Alfie said. "After speaking to the specialists, to my family and to the gaffer, I've come to the difficult decision to retire. I had some time off around Christmas after feeling some pain in my knee and the pain hasn't gone away. I went for a scan and unfortunately the damage was done."

"It's devastating, but it's how life goes. I was nearly in this situation in the summer, and I'd fallen out of love with the game. I think if I'd retired then, I wouldn't have wanted to even watch football again. But coming back here has made me fall back in love with it. It reminds me of when I was first here, being a kid and loving what I was doing. I've done what I wanted to achieve, and to go out with a win and a clean sheet in my last game was a nice way to end it.

[Somerset Fulham]

Such a shame when this happens but it was always on the cards.

Good luck to him in his next chapter.

[Andy S]

Yes he wot be the first player to retire with dodgy knees and he won't be the last. I hope he can stay in the game in some capacity

[HV71]

Very big shame. He had so much promise but was dogged by injury.  . Great character and it must have been so hard on him . Best of luck in whatever path he chooses to take

[ffcthereligion]

I never liked him at all as a player or a character. But 29 is no age to retire and it's unfortunate. Hopefully he transitions to life post football well

[bog]

Always sad when a player has to retire young through injury. Good luck Alfie. 

[bigalffc]

Ah shame, hope all goes well for Alfie's future

[Pluto]

What a shame for him. Great guy and leader by all accounts. A real positive influence in the dressing room for us, sadly if not on the pitch. Really difficult to recover from chronic knee issues, as every unsuccessful surgery makes full recovery less and less likely.

Wish him luck in whatever he does next.

[Jules]

Good luck for the future Alfie!

[SerbianLad]

It's a shame, he looked world class at times at Swansea, injuries really ruined his career...

[Fulham 442]

It's a shame, he looked world class at times at Swansea, injuries really ruined his career...

Absolutely agree with you.

[Mince n Tatties]

Shame,showed so much promise at Swansea.

[RaySmith]

Very big shame. He had so much promise but was dogged by injury.  . Great character and it must have been so hard on him . Best of luck in whatever path he chooses to take

:plus one:

[Sloth]

Good luck Alfie.

[bobbo]

Sorry to hear this , I liked what I saw with him and was pleased he got back to WW where he's been very popular . He's a local from where I live so I wish all the best .

[Buffalo76]

Pity he didn't retire about 5 years earlier - would've saved us £20m and untold medical bills.

[bobbo]

Pity he didn't retire about 5 years earlier - would've saved us £20m and untold medical bills.

nothing like a bit of sympathy eh ?

[Ronnief]

Did they sack the medical team after his ailments? Strange that they did not pick up his frailties in the fitness test prior to purchase. He was a waist of money and certainly did not perform for us.

[kiwian]

Did they sack the medical team after his ailments? Strange that they did not pick up his frailties in the fitness test prior to purchase. He was a waist of money and certainly did not perform for us.

Not his fault, he was not a "waist, " although he had one.

[StuinSalop]

He was my hope to tighten the defence when we first got promoted.  Then I think we loaned the guy from Arsenal, who was great in midfield but rubbish at the back.  No wonder we got relegated, we were done before we started.